Ripon Theatre Festival

Orb Community Arts
2026-07-12 12:15 - 13:00 UTC | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Orb is a creative health charity, working to support mental health across Knaresborough, Harrogate and North Yorkshire.
Orb Drama Group work together to devise performances, through movement, writing and comedy. The Puppetry Group work on different puppetry skills each term to create a film or performance. More information at www.orb-arts.org
FREE EVENT
12.15-1.00pm Little Bird Market

St Aelred's Irish Dance
2026-07-12 12:30 - 13:00, 2026-07-12 14:15 - 14:45 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
St Aelred’s Principal Dance Teacher, Una says: “We are a traditional Irish dance group made up of 25 dancers. We go from young talent, all the way to incredibly skilled older dancers. We love performing for our local community. We regularly perform to thousands each year on St Patrick’s day in Leeds and York. Our group is eye catching in vibrant traditional dresses. We can’t wait to perform at RTF for the first time!”
FREE EVENT
11.15-11.45am Little Bird Market, Ripon Market Place
12.30-1.00pm Ripon Spa Gardens
2.15-2.45pm Little Bird Market, Ripon Market Place
Una will be leading a free “Irish Dance for First-Timers” workshop for everyone aged 8+ in our Saturday Participation Zone – 2-3pm – come along and give it a try!

Morris Dance from Slubbing Billy's & Medusa Gothic Morris
2026-07-12 13:00 - 13:30 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Slubbing Billy’s
Slubbing Billy’s is a mixed Morris side dancing in the North West style. They dance in clogs and bowler hats decorated with fresh flowers. A large bass drum keeps them in time and their musicians play traditional folk dance tunes. In purple kit , sticks and bells they put on a colourful energetic display.
Medusa Gothic Morris
This small Knaresborough based dance team brings elegance and Gothic mystery to the art of Morris dancing, with black kit and purple hankies, and tunes in a minor key.
The Slubbing Billy’s will also be dancing on Saturday on the Cathedral Forecourt and at the Market Place and on Sunday in the Spa Gardens at 3.30pm.
FREE EVENT
10.45-11.15am Little Bird Market
1.00-1.30pm Little Bird Market

Ripon Dance Academy
2026-07-12 13:45 - 14:00 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Ripon Dance Academy offers high quality dance training in Ballet, Modern Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Acro. Classes are offered from pre school to 18 and pupils have the opportunity to take part in IDTA examinations, full school shows and dance festivals.
RDA will also be performing on Saturday on the Cathedral Forecourt from 3.00-3.30pm.
FREE EVENT
10.00-10.30am Ripon Spa Gardens
1.45-2.00pm Ripon Spa Gardens

Cricket on the Hearth
2026-07-12 14:30 - 15:00 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Cricket on the Hearth is an Appalachian step dancing team that meets in St. John’s Church Hall, Harrogate, HG1 3DT, on Sundays at 6.30pm to 8pm. We are a mixed side and dance mostly to American old time music played on the fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin. New members – dancers and musicians – are welcome. If interested, please contact Stella by email, sfzealand@hotmail.co.uk
FREE EVENT
2.30-3.00pm Ripon Spa Gardens

Morris Dance from Slubbing Billy's
2026-07-12 15:30 - 16:00 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Slubbing Billy’s
Slubbing Billy’s is a mixed Morris side dancing in the North West style. They dance in clogs and bowler hats decorated with fresh flowers. A large bass drum keeps them in time and their musicians play traditional folk dance tunes. In purple kit , sticks and bells they put on a colourful energetic display.
The Slubbing Billy’s will also be dancing on Saturday on the Cathedral Forecourt and at the Market Place.
FREE EVENT
10.45-11.15am Little Bird Market (with Medusa Gothic Morris)
1.00-1.30pm Little Bird Market (with Medusa Gothic Morris)
3.30-4.00pm Ripon Spa Gardens
